Some snow-covered roads still closed

Amarillo emergency personnel assisted a stranded motorist on the I-40 service road Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 in Amarillo. A blizzard packing 50 mph wind gusts and more than 11 inches of snow blasted Amarillo and Texas Panhandle Monday, making travel nearly impossible. Interstate 40 and many major highways in the Panhandle have been closed.

Lingering winter weather in the Texas Panhandle has left some roads and schools closed a day after a blizzard dumped 17 inches of snow in the Amarillo area.

The Texas Department of Transportation says part of Interstate 40 east of Amarillo and near the border with Oklahoma remained closed Tuesday. Stretches of Highway 87 in the Dalhart and Dumas (DOO'-mus) areas were also closed.

State officials say improving weather should mean reopening the roadways by early Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures in the Amarillo area are expected to reach the mid-30s.

City offices in Amarillo were closed Tuesday. A spokesman says Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport isn't operating flights until runways could be cleared by likely midday Tuesday.